Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

Pandora's Star


GR synopsis:
The year is 2380. The Intersolar Commonwealth, a sphere of stars some four hundred light-years in diameter, contains more than six hundred worlds, interconnected by a web of transport "tunnels" known as wormholes. At the farthest edge of the Commonwealth, astronomer Dudley Bose observes the impossible: Over one thousand light-years away, a star... vanishes. It does not go supernova. It does not collapse into a black hole. It simply disappears. Since the location is too distant to reach by wormhole, a faster-than-light starship, the Second Chance, is dispatched to learn what has occurred and whether it represents a threat. In command is Wilson Kime, a five-time rejuvenated ex-NASA pilot whose glory days are centuries behind him.

Opposed to the mission are the Guardians of Selfhood, a cult that believes the human race is being manipulated by an alien entity they call the Starflyer. Bradley Johansson, leader of the Guardians, warns of sabotage, fearing the Starflyer means to use the starship's mission for its own ends.

Pursued by a Commonwealth special agent convinced the Guardians are crazy but dangerous, Johansson flees. But the danger is not averted. Aboard the Second Chance, Kime wonders if his crew has been infiltrated. Soon enough, he will have other worries. A thousand light-years away, something truly incredible is waiting: a deadly discovery whose unleashing will threaten to destroy the Commonwealth... and humanity itself. Could it be that Johansson was right?

I am reading this for my 2016 Topic Discard Challenge, #145, Give a Book a Second Chance.

I tried reading this book last year for the 2015 Challenge, for the over 500 pages topic. I could about half way through it before I DNF'd it. It was a struggle for me. I hated the writing style, I had troubles following all the characters and all the different worlds. There are A LOT of people and A LOT of worlds to keep track of. I don't know if this go will be any better, but I am trying it with an audiobook, and am hoping that this might make the difference. I really want to read it, even after giving up on it, it sounds delightful, but I just couldn't find my groove last year.

I was hoping the audiobook would be better for me than the actual book was, but I was wrong. I made it further this time, but I still DNF'd it. I think I hate this book more now than I did last year. I don't understand what I am missing? It has such a high rating, and everyone seems to love it. I wonder if because it is such a difficult journey to get through that people who actually finish it feel like they have to love it.

I gave this book a second chance; I think is deserved that. Trying a second time did not fix the issues I had with it though. There will never be a third chance. What was I thinking?!?!

0/5 - I wish GR would actually let us do 0 or 1/2 stars.

I read Fallen Dragon by the same author last year and absolutely loved it, so I got all excited when I saw the title of your topic. It's real shame you didn't like it though, I understand completely how frustrating it is to waste time on bad books!